This collection of the Divans of Ennabiga, Antara, Tharafa, Zuhair, Alqama, and Imruulqais is a rare find. Among the earliest known writers of Arabic poetry, these authors are essential components of Arabic history and literature. This study, long out of print, is the acknowledged starting point for the study of these poets. Their Divans are presented in Arabic, along with a substantial introduction by Ahlwardt, a list of variant readings and corrections, considerations of discrepancies in the manuscripts, and appendices of the fragments. Long considered to be the authoritative book on early Arabic poetry, Ahlwardt’s work has retained its value over the decades since its original publication.

Wilhelm Theodor Ahlwardt (1828-1909) was born into an academic family. He studied oriental philology at Greifswald and Göttingen. Employed as a librarian in Gotha and Paris, he eventually became a Privatdozent at Greifswald University. He wrote several important works on Arabic poetry.